President's Office

Welcome to Grand Rapids Community College!

Steven C. Ender, Ed.D.

I am pleased to welcome you to GRCC. We’re growing fast and evidence of how we are meeting this community’s expanding needs is everywhere. But you won’t see new buildings going up. You’ll see this college making cost-efficient decisions to reuse, renovate and respond.

With our acquisition of the former Davenport property, we have been able to avoid the need of costly, new facilities. With wise renovation at that site, we have already been able to offer – and fill! – 70 much-needed additional class sections and we aren’t done yet.

This new property, just a short walk from our downtown campus, also allows us to continue to keep the heart of the core city vital, as we have since we began in 1914. GRCC is considered a major partner in a variety of economic development activities throughout the county as well.

Because of current economic conditions, demand for our classes is going up and funding is going down, so we have to be mindful of every dollar. That is how I operate. GRCC must stay true to our mission to provide an open door to higher education to all, so if funds are cut, we must rely on our wealth of ingenuity and innovativeness.

When we reached capacity at our downtown Grand Rapids campus, we were able to expand our outreach by using facilities at high schools and businesses.

When neighboring Ottawa County, approached GRCC about offering services there, we were able to do so - again without the expense of bricks and mortar. We now have five locations in Ottawa County, all created through partnerships with existing organizations and businesses. A good example is our partnership with GVSU to offer classes at their beautiful Meijer Campus location in Holland. Another is our new West Side Learning Corner, in Grand Rapids, which opened with the help of Lake Michigan Credit Union on the city’s northwest side.

Many locations, but one mission: provide the community with learning opportunities that enable people to achieve their goals. Choose from over 100 programs to put you on a path to success. And if that path leads you toward a 4-year degree, your credits will transfer easily to other Michigan colleges.

GRCC is a great place to be. We have your interests at the center of every decision we make. I wish you the best as you pursue your learning adventure in the year ahead.

Regards,

Steven C. Ender, Ed.D.
President, Grand Rapids Community College

President Trustee Executive Office

If your communications are of an urgent matter please feel free to contact one of the following President Trustee Executive Office personnel.

Elaine McCormack

Executive Assistant to the President
616 234 3901
emccorma@grcc.edu

Kathryn Mullins

Executive Assistant to the Board of Trustees and
Manager of the President Trustee Executive Office
616 234 3908
kmullins@grcc.edu

31674 page hits and 28899 unique visits since 06-05-02
Updated on 25-SEP-09
Edit this page | View text only version